Vichy, MO
Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:03 am
Drove to Vichy, MO hoping to see the P-51D "Archie" (A veteran of the 100 Hour War between El Salvador and Honduras in 1969) but that was not possible.
Noticed though, five derelict Douglas C-47s / DC-3s (four of them across the active runway and not accessible to me for photographing because of post 9/11 regulations, according to the airport manager's office).
This one though, was sitting on the main ramp, and access was kindly granted. How about it, for the WIX airplane?
Saludos,
Tulio
Noticed though, five derelict Douglas C-47s / DC-3s (four of them across the active runway and not accessible to me for photographing because of post 9/11 regulations, according to the airport manager's office).
This one though, was sitting on the main ramp, and access was kindly granted. How about it, for the WIX airplane?
Saludos,
Tulio
Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:31 am
And how hard is it to get a jeep out the Cargo doors?
If you have wings, some wheels help.
If you have wings, some wheels help.
Thu Apr 28, 2005 10:47 am
Thu Apr 28, 2005 10:49 am
Ok, so how about a livery?
I know there has to be some good ones out there that have not been taken.
I know there has to be some good ones out there that have not been taken.
Thu Apr 28, 2005 12:16 pm
I called the owners of the P-51D and C-47s...Baron Aviation. They were friendly and told me to come down anytime and photo the aircraft. If you ask to speak to the owner of the Mustang, he'll come to the phone if he is in the office... Pretty nice guy. Can't remember the number, but it's in the phonebook.
By the way, Tulio, are you going to the Columbia Memorial Airshow? FAS P-51D "Archie" will be there, as well as several other warbirds (B-25, TBM, P-38, SBD, BT-13, T-6 off the top of my head). If you'll be there, we might possibly have a chance to meet.
-Dante
Also... If you are in central MO, you might consider heading down to Jefferson City, there is a P-51D there as well....Kansas City Kitty.
By the way, Tulio, are you going to the Columbia Memorial Airshow? FAS P-51D "Archie" will be there, as well as several other warbirds (B-25, TBM, P-38, SBD, BT-13, T-6 off the top of my head). If you'll be there, we might possibly have a chance to meet.
-Dante
Also... If you are in central MO, you might consider heading down to Jefferson City, there is a P-51D there as well....Kansas City Kitty.
Thu Apr 28, 2005 12:23 pm
Dante:
The guys at Baron could not have been nicer; they gave me permission to take photos of the aircraft, but I went back to the airport's office to ask for instructions regarding walking or driving to the airplanes, since they were across an active runway.
That's when they told me it could not be done. They were really nice, and I understood perfectly their position on the matter.
Archie's owner wasn't there, and I decided not to push my luck : )
When is the Columbia Airshow?
I am now in Kansas City, and will be here for about two months or so.
From here to Columbia is 138 miles, so it can be done without too much of a hassle. If I have a day off, I will make sure to make the trip.
Saludos,
Tulio
The guys at Baron could not have been nicer; they gave me permission to take photos of the aircraft, but I went back to the airport's office to ask for instructions regarding walking or driving to the airplanes, since they were across an active runway.
That's when they told me it could not be done. They were really nice, and I understood perfectly their position on the matter.
Archie's owner wasn't there, and I decided not to push my luck : )
When is the Columbia Airshow?
I am now in Kansas City, and will be here for about two months or so.
From here to Columbia is 138 miles, so it can be done without too much of a hassle. If I have a day off, I will make sure to make the trip.
Saludos,
Tulio
Vichy
Thu Apr 28, 2005 1:20 pm
Tulio,
I stopped in there on the way home from Oshkosh a few years back. Mr. Maples came out to look at my 170 while I was getting gas. Sounded like he had just put the Mustang back in the hangar. Nice guy and told me to go look in the hangar. He has/had quite a collection. P51, Beaver on floats, 195, Beech 18, etc., etc.
Mustang is this one...
http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/survivors/pages/44-73350.shtml
Big airport out in the middle of no where with an amazing collection.
I stopped in there on the way home from Oshkosh a few years back. Mr. Maples came out to look at my 170 while I was getting gas. Sounded like he had just put the Mustang back in the hangar. Nice guy and told me to go look in the hangar. He has/had quite a collection. P51, Beaver on floats, 195, Beech 18, etc., etc.
Mustang is this one...
http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/survivors/pages/44-73350.shtml
Big airport out in the middle of no where with an amazing collection.
Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:42 pm
Tulio wrote:Dante:
When is the Columbia Airshow?
I am now in Kansas City, and will be here for about two months or so.
From here to Columbia is 138 miles, so it can be done without too much of a hassle. If I have a day off, I will make sure to make the trip.
Saludos,
Tulio
Hey Tulio,
The airshow is Memorial Day Weekend. It's been pretty darn good the times I've been. http://www.salute.org
I went to MU until my graduation in December. I could make it from KC to Columbia in about 90 minutes.
Fri Apr 29, 2005 3:49 am
Hey, Dante!
"
Hey Tulio,
I went to MU until my graduation in December. I could make it from KC to Columbia in about 90 minutes."
I am sure you can make it in 90 minutes. Me? Man, I must drive the speed limit, otherwise a MO trooper sees me going fast, with a vehicle with out of state plates, and will think: Hmmmm.... Mexican? Texas Plates? ... Drugs? And I will be stopped and searched . . . : )
That would make the trip likely, a three hour deal : )
Seriously, I will do my best to go to the show, but there is no telling when I will be off from work, or if I will be here by then.
Looking forward to meeting you and say hello.
Saludos,
Tulio
"
Hey Tulio,
I went to MU until my graduation in December. I could make it from KC to Columbia in about 90 minutes."
I am sure you can make it in 90 minutes. Me? Man, I must drive the speed limit, otherwise a MO trooper sees me going fast, with a vehicle with out of state plates, and will think: Hmmmm.... Mexican? Texas Plates? ... Drugs? And I will be stopped and searched . . . : )
That would make the trip likely, a three hour deal : )
Seriously, I will do my best to go to the show, but there is no telling when I will be off from work, or if I will be here by then.
Looking forward to meeting you and say hello.
Saludos,
Tulio
Fri Apr 29, 2005 11:23 am
I got stuck in Vichy on the way to Oshkosh as well, way back in 1999 I believe. We lost a mag while traveling north from Louisiana. For such a remote airport, Vichy turns up a lot in conversation. 
We spent more than a couple of hours hanging out with the lady in the control hut waiting on a local mechanic to come fly us to a nearby airport for a new mag. Had plenty of time to check out the planes. Other than the P-51, there was what looked to be a freshly surplused S-2 Tracker resting on the tarmac with its wings folded. There was also mention of a Spitfire (or two) in a nearby hangar freshly arrived from recovery in the area around Thailand. The C-47's were present across the runway even back then. I snapped a few photos of them as we taxied back toward the active runway after swapping mags. All of my photos from that trip are still stuck on my busted hard drive though.
We spent more than a couple of hours hanging out with the lady in the control hut waiting on a local mechanic to come fly us to a nearby airport for a new mag. Had plenty of time to check out the planes. Other than the P-51, there was what looked to be a freshly surplused S-2 Tracker resting on the tarmac with its wings folded. There was also mention of a Spitfire (or two) in a nearby hangar freshly arrived from recovery in the area around Thailand. The C-47's were present across the runway even back then. I snapped a few photos of them as we taxied back toward the active runway after swapping mags. All of my photos from that trip are still stuck on my busted hard drive though.